Hi, I am a foodie - I love to cook, enjoy figuring out how to make recipes more nutritious, and challenging my friends and family to try new foods. I have been on the South Beach diet (or a modified version) since 1/1/2007 and I find it absolutely doable. I have never eaten as healthy as I am now.

My exercise program is tailored around whatever I can do within my limitations with my rheumatoid arthritis (and the lovely Pacific Northwest weather). I modify as I need to ...

Hi, I am a foodie - I love to cook, enjoy figuring out how to make recipes more nutritious, and challenging my friends and family to try new foods. I have been on the South Beach diet (or a modified version) since 1/1/2007 and I find it absolutely doable. I have never eaten as healthy as I am now.

My exercise program is tailored around whatever I can do within my limitations with my rheumatoid arthritis (and the lovely Pacific Northwest weather). I modify as I need to accommodate whatever gimpy joints may be hurting. I do daily beach walks & neighborhood walks with my dog Marley for at least a couple miles.

I have rheumatoid arthritis which was diagnosed when I was 2 years old. I went into remission when I was about 6. I came out of remission during my junior year of college when I was studying nursing and focusing on midwifery (yes that moment sucked). I ended up changing my focus to psychiatric and truly that was the beginning of my learning to be "flexible".

I have had 20 plus surgeries (I quit counting at 20 for a good reason). I have learned there is no defined "line in the sand". You do the best you can do and you learn to alter your expectations of what you can do or what you want to do - otherwise you get stuck (and depressed). Not a good place to be - I don't do depressed.

What I found with Sparks was a sense of community. This is an important factor with dieting, and especially with anybody who is at home due to whatever circumstances and/or disabled. Sparks has kept me accountable. It keeps me motivated. It reminds me that there are plenty of other folks who are on this journey who are just beginning or on their way - and they need to know that there is hope that their weight goals are attainable. And all I can say is they are! It takes work, patience, and heck - you need to be a pit bull (love my doggies) and push yourself forward. YOU CAN do this - it takes time but if you are persistent, anything is possible!

5/25/08 - going for 135 since I have managed to lose 3 pounds anyways during maintenance. Evidently my body can handle a little more weight loss!

10/1/08 - On maintenance all summer and decided to lower my maintenance to 130 - 135 since still losing. I have a Thanksgiving Challenge going which I hope to lose 3 pounds to hit 130.

11/11/08 - hit 130lbs!

11/30/08 - NY Challenge. Goal to hit 128 for an even 60 pounds by my 2 year SB anniversary.

1/27/09 - hit 127. Considering myself now maintenance

9/12/10 - Survived the summer and continue to maintain although my body doesn't seem to be comfy at 125. More ideal is the 135 range for my lifestyle

9/17/2014 - took several months away from Sparks

My Program:
South Beach Diet since January 1st, 2007. Working on eating clean, adding in some vegetarian/vegan days.

My exercise program is modified due to having multiple joint replacements and rheumatoid arthritis.

Personal Information:
I am 54, married with 2 adult children (ages 32 and 36), and one adorable granddaughter, Aliegh who is 5. I use to have Abe, the crazy weimaraner who passed in late spring 2012. Now I have Marley who is keeping our household in weimaraner antics. I love to cook, craft in several mediums, read, and am a music fiend and am known to break out in dance regularly.

Hi there! I see you so often commenting on SB boards, etc. and since I'm trying to figure out SB enough to start on it, I thought that I'd come to you page and see who you are and how you're doing. Wow, you are doing so well. No wonder you can tell us so much about SB with how long you been with it and doing so well. I see also that you have RA, which I have had since 2008 and it's definitely no fun. My Rheumy and I keep working on the correct doses and meds. to get me to feel good enough and not raise my liver tests. Right now I showed liver toxicity again, so the Leflunomide is dropped and I'm to go to a GI Spec. next. Fun huh? But best to get this checked out. I've lost 67# with SP and before and have gained around 15# now over the last 1-1/2 yrs. I plateaued forever and gave up so to speak, but kept being here on SP and tracking and everything else, and still can't get a handle on it. I thought if I'd shake my body up once again with like SB, then I'd drop again because my main problem is sugar. So I've revving myself up to get on it but am cleaning up my pantry first! I'm Karen and I've joined several teams that have to do with low carb. Good luck to you with keeping it off!